Dirigible arship for military purposes.



M. JELALIAN. DIRIGIBLE MRSHIP FOR MILITARY PURPOSES.

APPLICATlON HLED MAY 2. I917. 1 ,Q1 ,21 PatentedSept. 2", 1917,

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

messes APPLICATION FILED MAY 2. 1917.

utentedfiepr. 25, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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in van for asses IVI. JELALIAN.

DIREGIBLE AIRSHIP FOR MILITARY PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 19H.

Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

lgzii'nesses MARTIN JELALIAN, 0F CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND.

DIRIGIBLE .AIRSHIP FOR MILITARY PURPOSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

Application filed May 2, 1917. Serial No. 165,958.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN JELALIAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Cranston, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dirigible Airships for Military Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provlde an aerial apparatus of that class which can not be destroyed by fire and which may be conveniently utilized in military operations; the apparatus being provided with a plurality of gas bags located witl-in an lnclosing frame divided into a plurality of compartments and each compartment containing a gas bag; layers of fine tin employed between the compartments of said inclosing frame to operate to prevent the fire penetrating from one compartment to the other, when one of the gas bags is occasionally met by fire.

Cylindrical water-tanks are arranged between the said compartments of the gas bags and have water pipe connections projecting outwardly from the inclosing frame of said gas ba s designed to be utilized in extinguishing re, when certain parts of the apparatus are met by fire.

The object of the invention is to generally improve this class of air-ship, and it consists in certain and special features of construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

A practical illustration of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side perspective detail view of the spring cushion landing device as adapted to be secured upon the bottoms of the cars. Fig. 3 is a side detail view of one of the -rudders. Fig. 4 is a side perspective detail view of the winged device. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional detail view of the apparatus. Fig. 6 is a side detail view of the gangway as arranged between the cars. Fig. 7 is a side detail view of one of the cars, its outer layer partly removed showing its interior construction.

Fig. 8 is a top perspective view of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a side perspective elevation of the gas bag inclosing frame, its combined outer layers as partly removed and showing its interior construction. Fig. 10 is a top view of the winged device as arranged with a palr of pull-spring connections. Fig. 11 is a front detail view of one of the revolving propellers.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 9, the device comprises a gas bag inclosing frame l provided with alternate outer layers of fine tin 9 and canvas 9 said frame consisting of a series of flat circular rings -2 arranged transversely to the frame and said rings are provided with equispaced perforations 6, 6- arranged in pairs and encircling the same. Tubular rods -3, 3 arranged in pairs encircle the rings 2, 2- .and extendlongitudinally of the frame 1 and project through said perforations 6, 6 and have one of their ends secured to the perforations formed in the forward end flat circular support 9* and the other ends attached in the same manner to a similar support provided at the rear end of the frame -1 and said longitudinally extending tubular rods have connectlng wires 4, 1 arranged between each pair.

The frame -1 which surrounds a wire netting 5 is divided into four compartments each compartment contains a gas bag -7. A space 16-"- is arranged between each compartment each having a fixed wire platform -1O Cylindrical water tanks -16, l6 are mounted uponthe wire platforms 10, 10 and have water pipe connections16 and projecting outwardly to the frame -lto fixed platforms -8, 8-, arranged upon each side of the frame, and also into each car 22 that is carried by the frame -l-.

A pair of closely arranged rings 2 2- similar to the shape of the rings -2- separate the compartments, and each pair forms a space -16, 16 and each space carries a fixed platform -10, 10

Each pair of rings 2 2 between the compartments has a series of connecting supports 16; a wire netting 1O is secured to said supports, and a layer of fine tin is secured to the latter.

The utility of employing layers of tin between the compartments in the manner described is that the same will operate to prevent the fire from penetrating from one compartment to the other, when one of the gas bags is occasionally met by fire.

The utility of arranging water tanks between the spaces has two distinct objects: 1. The water maybe utilized for extinguishing fire, when the certain parts of the apparatus is met by the same; 2. When the water is discharged from the tanks at the time when one of the gas bags is met by fire,-

the apparatus will become lighter and can continue traveling without losing its equi-:

' 7 ing outwardly therefrom, and said supports -16 have twisted wires 9---v connected atftheir outer ends thereto and extending 'to -the'longitudinal supports -11 arranged upon the top of the frame 1,

and said twisted wires 9 have connectingwires -12- and a slidable door 16- isarranged in each platform 8, and also a slidable door is formed in the frani'-1 opposite each platform 8.

Upon the top of the frame 1 is a "gang-way'which consists of two longitudinally extending supports -1l, 11 and vertically extending supports 10, 10 having their lower ends integral with the rings 2, 2 and their upper ends connected to said longitudinal supports -11- and having connecting wires 10 1O The longitudinal supports 11, 11 have transversely extending connecting supports 10 arranged there between and also connecting wires 10, 10

Projecting outwardly from the rear end of the frame 1 is a flat outwardly eX- tending tail portion -17-.

Mounted upon 'a fixed platform 21+, forwardly of the mechanism 1 is a gun 20; also mounted upon a platform 19 rearwardly of the mechanism is a gun -18.

Arranged upon the top of the frame 1 is a series of integral eyelets 15, 15-.

Located beneath the frame 1- are three 'cars '22-, and as each car is constructed alike an explanation of one of the same will suffice. v,

The ca1"' --22 consists of three metallic frames as frame 52, 52 and 52 which surround the same; a series of vertical supports --35, 35- extending around the car 22 and connected to said frames as at points 35, 35 and a wire netting 51 secured to the same.

Said car 22 is also provided with windows 23 upon both sides of the same for observation purposes.

The bottom frame of the car 22 also carries a series of transversely arranged connecting supports 37 and a wire netting 37 is secured to the latter and a layer of line tin carried upon the netting.

Extending from the car 22 to the platform -10* arranged within the space 16 between the compartments of the mechanism 1 is an elevating means 55 and secured to the bottom frame -52 of said car --22 is a support -25 provided with integral collars 25 from which extend shafts 26 and a sled form tread member 27 having integral tubes 27 is slidably mounted upon the end portions of said shafts 26 Expanding coil-springs 26, 26- encircle said shafts 26 and have one of their ends secured against the collars -25 and the other ends attached to the free end portions of the tubes 27 Integral strap hooks 29 are carried by the tread member 27 and having strap connections 29 extending from said hooks to the support 25 Extending from the forward end of the car 22- is a fiat vertical rudder -Q9, which extends forwardly from the lower part of a tubular curved shaft 36; Said 100 shaft -36 has an integral vertical flat forwardly projecting portion 49 provided with equi-spaced perforations and also having rudder frame members 51, 51- projecting forwardly from the upper and 105 lower ends thereof, a Wire netting -51 being secured to said frame members, and a layer of canvas carried upon each side of the netting.

The shaft 36 is loosely mounted upon a 110 vertically arranged stationary pin 49 projects inwardly to the car 22 from the central part thereof and also has a steer- -Wheel 46 secured at its upper end. Projecting forwardly from the forward end of the bottom of the car 22 is a supporting member -35,, which is designed as a support for the vertical stationary pin 4.-9 and the latter has its lower end rigidly connected thereto.

Extending transversely to the car -22 behind thesteer wheel -46 is a gun-platform -69. Fixed forwardly upon said platform is a rod 49, and a foot operated rudder-lock 46 'is mounted upon the central portion of said rod -49 and has a coil pull-spring connection 48, l8-'upon each side thereof. Said coil springs encircle the rod -49- and have one of their ends secured to the platform 69- and the other ends attached to the lock 46 A portion of a sprocket-wheel -47 integral with the tubular shaft -36 is adapted to receive the free end portion of the rudder lock 46 as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Extending transversely to the car -22 behind the gun-platform .69- is a shaft -68 provided with a revolving-propeller 31 at each end thereof. Mounted upon said shaft 68- is a sprocket-wheel which has a chain connection -60 with a sprocket-wheel 59 mounted upon a motor-shaft 60.

Located centrally upon the middle frame -52 of the car 22- and extending transversely to the same, is a wing-shaft 57 provided with a crank at each end thereof. Mounted centrally upon said wingshaft 57 is a sprocket-wheel -58 having a chain connection -60 with a sprocket-wheel -59 mounted upon a motor-shaft 58; also extending transversely to said car 22 and mounted upon the top frame of the same is a shaft 57 which is provided with a revolving propeller 3l at each end thereof'mounted upon said shaft -57- is a sprocket-wheel -57 which has a chain connection 66 with a sprocket-wheel -66.- mounted upon a motor shaft 61.

Extending transversely to the car -22 behind the shaft 57 is a gun platform 69 Pivotally connected to the top frame "52 of the car -22 as at points -33 is a pair of bird-like wings 33- which extend outwardly from each side of the same, and eacho-f said wings consists of a pair of longitudinally extending flat supports -32 adapted to conform the curvature of the wing, and said supports 32 have vertically prtnecting fiat integral portions provided with equi-spaced perforations to receive transversely extending wing-supports 32*-. A wire netting 8'2- is secured to said supports and alayer of fine tin secured to the netting.

A fiat rectangular-shaped support 36 is located beneath each of said wings and extends longitudinally to the same, and a series of wing-supports -36 have their lower ends pivotally connected to the support 36-- as at points -36 and the upper ends pivotally united to the supports "32 which extend longitudinally to the wings 33-. Pivot-ally connected upon the bottom of the rectangular-shaped support 36 as at point -39 is a vertical supporting arm -36* provided with an eye let -fi5- at its lower end loosely mounted upon the end portion of the wing-shaft. --;')T between the collar -54- integral with said shaft 57 and a removable threaded collar -53 that is secured at the free portion of said shaft.

Located upon the wings -33 is a pair of integral eyelets -33 and coil pullsprings 36 have their lower ends connected to said eyelets 33 and the upper ends thereof attached to the front end portions of supports 3 l integral with the supports 35 and'35 and said pull-spring connections are designed to support said wings to facilitate the upward movements of the same, and said wings are thus constructed to, receive up and down motion in the manner of the wings of a bird.

Projecting outwardly from each side of the middle frame 52- of the car 2"2 is a plane -51l each plane carrying a cylinder 5l secured upon the bottom of the same by means of supports -5l-, and said cylinders are designed to float upon the surface of the water when traveling through the same.

Extendingoutwardly from the rear of the middle frame --52 of the car --22- is a fiat outwardly extending tail portion 30.

Also extending around the top of the car 22 upon the top frame 52- is a se ries of vertical supports -.35* which carry a main plane -3l composed of a wire netting and a layer of fin tin secured to the same. Outwardly extending supports -35 have their lower ends connected to the top frame -52 of the car 22 and project through the planes 34- and have their upper ends provided with eyelets; and a pair of longitudinally extending connecting supports -5- located above said plane -3-l and which extend upon each side of the frame 1- project through said eyelets and are rigidly connected thereto. A series of flexible twisted wires 14, 14 surround the upper portion of the mechanism 1- and pass through the integral eyelets -15 arranged upon the top of said frame and have their free ends attached to the supports 5#- which extend'longitudinally to each sideof the frame 1 at the lower part thereof, and a wire netting 15 is secured to said flexible twisted wires -14, 14- as shown by Figs. 1 and 5.

Arranged between each car 22- is a gang-way l0, 40- which consists of twist ed main wires 31 31 having one of their ends connected to the vertical supports 35*- of the ear 2'2- and the other ends attached in the same manner to the opposite vertical support of the opposite car -22-. A series of connecting supports -31"- extend transversely to the gang-way and having a wire netting secured to the same. taching wires -31, 31*- extend from the frame 1- and are connected to main wires 31 as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

. Each revolving propeller of the car 22 consists of a threaded eyelet 39-having frames -37, 37- integral with and adapt-- ed to conform to the exact shape of a usual At-v revolving propeller, and a wire netting 37 is secured to each of said frames 37 and a layer of fine tin 37' is secured to the netting. The end of the shaft 68 is threaded to receive the eyelet 39 and a threaded collar or a nut may be secured to the end portion of the shaft 68. 1

It will be readily understood that however if the certain parts of the car is occasionally met by fire the propellers 31 and 3l -and the wings 33 can not be affected by the same; or if when the certain parts of the outer layer of the frame -1 or one of the gas bags is met by fire, the arrangement of tin 9 and 10 between the compartments will prevent the fire from penetrating from one compartment to the other, and by the arrangement of the propellers and wings as described it will be obvious that the apparatus will have considerable amount of speed and also lifting capacity.

Thus having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a gas-bag inclosing frame divided into a plurality of compartments, each compartment containing a gasbag detachably secured within the compartment and adapted to fill out the same, a narrow space between adjacent compartments and said spaces having fixed platforms extending transversely to said inclosing frame, cylindrical water tanks'mounted within said spaces and located upon said platforms, and said water tanks having water-pipe connections extending from each end of said cylindrical water-tanks and projecting outwardly to the inclosing frame of said gas bags.

2. An apparatus of the character 1 described comprising a gas bag inclosing frame-divided into a plurality of compartments and each compartment containing a gas bag, said frame consisting of a series of flat vertically arranged circular rings located transversely to the frame and provided with equi-spaced perforations arranged in pairs and encircling said rings, a series of tubular rods arranged in pairs, extending longitudinally to said frame and projecting through said perforations of said rings and having one of their ends secured to a flat circular support located centrally at the forward end of the inclosing mechanism of said gas bags and the other ends similarly connected to a small flat circular support prowided at the rear end, and a flat outwardly extending tail portion projecting outwardly from the rear end of said mechanism.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a gas bag inclosing frame having a plurality of compartments, said frame made of a series of flat vertically I o I 0 arranged circular rings provided with equispaced perforations, a series of longitudinally extending rods arranged inpairs and each pair having connecting wires there between encircling said rings and projecting through said perforations, a pair of closely located rings'arranged between adjacent compartments of the frame and said rings ha ving fiat vertical circular planes each composed of a series of connecting supports, a wire netting and a layer of fine tin, said planes dividing the compartments of the gas bags and forming a space 'here be tween, a wire netting carried by 1 id frame and layers of fine tin secured to the latter between each of said compartments and encircling said spaces.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a gas bag inclosing frame divided into a plurality of compartments and having a combined outer layer of fine tin and 'canvas, a platform arranged between each compartment and having a cylindrical water tank mounted upon the same, fixed platforms projecting, outwardly from each side of said inclosing frame, and water pipe connections extending from each end of said water tanks'to said outwardly extending platforms and also water pipe connections projecting centrally from the bottom-0f said cvlindrical water tanks into the cars located beneath the frame of said gas bags.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a gas bag inclosing frame having spaces arranged between the compartments of the same, similarly constructed cars carried by said frame and located directly beneath said spaces formed between said compartments, ladders extending from said cars through said'spaces into fixed platforms located within said spaces and extending transversely to said frame, platforms projecting outwardly from each side of the latter and the same having connecting main twisted wires extending from the outer ends of said outwardly projecting platforms into a longitudinally extending gangy'ay arranged upon the top of said frame.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a gas bag inclosing frame provided with a combined outer layer of fine tin and canvas, gas bags secured to said frame and each located within a compartment, three cars carried by said mechanism and located beneath the same and rigidly connected thereto, two revolvthrough said planes and the netting, each of said reciprocating'wings consisting of a pair of longitudinally extending flat supports adapted to conform to the exact curvature of the wing, and said supports having flat vertically projecting portions provided with equi-spaced perforations, a series of connecting wing-supports extending transversely to said wings and passing through said perforations, a wire netting carried by said supports and a layer of fine tin secured to the netting.

7. An apparatus of the character described comprising a frame having a plurality of compartments and each compartment inclosing a gas bag, -ars carried by said frame and located beneath the same, a series of vertically; arranged supports integral with and extending around the top of each of said cars said supports carrying flat planes composed of a wire netting and a layer of fine tin. said planes located upon said supports above said .cars and supporting said frame of said gas bags, outwardly extending verti :11 supports extending from the top of each of said cars and projecting having longitudinally extending supports upper ends, a series of twisted flexible supporting wires encircling the upper portion of said frame and passing through integral eyelets formed upon the top of said frame and having their ends attached to longitudinal supports extending upon each side of the frame, and a wire netting secured to said supporting flexible wires.

S. An apparatus of the character described comprising a frame carrying a plurality of gas bags each located within a compartment, a fixed gun platform arranged at the forward end upon the top of said fame and having guns mounted on the same, a gun platform located at the rear end upon the top of said f 'ame and also having guns mounted on the same, a gang-way extending from said rear gun platform to said forward gun-platform, the same consisting of a series of vertical integral supports arranged longitudinally to the mechanism, said vertical supports having two longitudinally extending supports made fast upon their upper ends, connect ing wires extending from said longitudinally arranged supports and connected to said frame and a series of connecting sup ports extending transversely to said gangway and having their ends connected to said longitudinal supports.

9. An apparatus of the character described comprising a gas bag inclosing frame adapted to support a plurality of gas bags, cars carried by said frame and located beneaththe same, each of said cars consisting of metallic frames forming upper, lower and middle frames, said frames having a series of connecting metallic supsecured at their ports extending from the lower frame and projecting through the middle frame to the upper frame and connected thereto, a wire netting secured to said supports and a layer of canvas secured to the same, longitudinally extending supports bolted upon the bottom of said lower frame, said supports having integral collars and also shafts extending therefrom, sled form tread members having integral tubes slidably mounted upon the end portions of said shafts, expanding coilsprings encircling said shafts and having one of their ends secured against said collars and the opposite ends thereof attached to the free end portions of said tubular members, and integral hookscarried by said tread members and having strap connections extending'from said hooks to said longitudinally extending supports.

10. An apparatus of the character described comprising an inclosing frame containing a plurality of gas bags, similarly constructed cars carried. by said frame and located beneath the same, a gun platform at the forward end of each of said cars and having guns mounted on the same, gun platforms at the rear ends of said cars, a gang-way extending rearwardly 'from the rear platform of the forward car to the forward platform of the adjacent car located centrally beneath the frame and also a gangway extending rearwardly from the rear platform of said opposite car to the forward platform of another car located in the rear beneath said frame, and said gang-ways consisting of a series of twisted main wires having one of their ends attached to a pair of vertical supports provided at the rear upon the top of the forward car .and extending longitudinally beneath said mechanism and having their opposite ends connected to similarly arranged vertical supports provided at the forward end of the opposite car, wires extending from the mechanism and connected to said main twisted wires, and also to a pair of main wires forming the bottoms of said gang-ways, connecting wires extending upon the bottom transversely to the gang-ways having their ends connected to said main wires forming the bottoms of said gang-ways, and a wire netting secured to the same.

11. An apparatus of the character described comprising a gas bag inclosing frame having a combined outer layer of fine tin and canvas, cars carried by said frame and rigidly connected thereto, a flat vertical rudder at the forward end of each of said cars, each of said rudders consisting of a curved tubular shaft loosely mounted upon a fixed vertically arrangedpin projecting inwardly to the car from the central part thereof and also having a hand-wheel secured at its upper end, said tubular shaft provided with an integral fiat vertical forwardly projecting portion provided with equi-spaced perforations and said projecting portion having rudder members extending forwardly from the upper and lower ends thereof, a wire netting secured to said members and a layer of canvas secured to the same.

12. An apparatus of the character described comprising a gas bag inclosing frame, cars carried by said frame and located beneath the same, two revolving propellers and a vertically reciprocating wing upon each side of each of said cars, a vertically arranged supporting arm beneath each of said wings having its upper end pivotally connected to a flat rectangular-shaped support extending longitudinally beneath said wings, and its lower end provided with an eyelet and loosely mounted upon the end portion of a wing crank shaft located beneath said Wings and extending transversely to the car, a series of wing supports, having copiel oi this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the one of their ends pivotally connected to said I arectangular-shaped support and the opposite ends thereof pivotally united to a pair of longitudinally extending flat supports of said wings, said pair of supports also carrying vertically projecting flat integral portions provided with equi-sp'aced perforations to receive a series of transversely arranged wing-supports, a Wire netting secured to the latter and a layer of fine tin secured to the same, a pair of pull-spring connections arranged upon each of said wings and designed to support he wings and also to facilitate the upwa movement of the same.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN J ELALIAN.

lVitnes'ses:

LAEKIS SHAMREIAN, JAMES KELUNIAN.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G." 

